What is Super Sneaker?  Each time a class comes into the gym they have the opportunity to earn a letter.  Their goal is to try and spell Super Sneaker.  I have a chart in the gym with each teachers name on it.  It is based on whether the class was well behaved, good sports, good peace builders, and respectful.  If they are, they earn a letter.  Once they spell out Super Sneaker, they earn a free day.  They get to choose one of the several very large sneakers I have in my office and take it up to t their room for a trophy, they get to display a paper sneaker with the teachers name and date of winning.  It is a class reward and so they try to get everyone working for the same thing.  I am not easy on them either, especially when it gets down to the last letter.  The kids seem to be getting into it.  They were very into it at Horace Mann.  I had 3 classes earn it in a day sometimes and I wouldn't have enough sneakers to go aroun sometimes.  I have gotten more since then.  I have had the same success here.  Last year, Mrs. Lewis' class won the most times so, they earned the Giant Super Sneaker.  I was really proud of them.  I hope to see the same success this year.

Another successful program is the jogging program.  I have been teaching the children about pacing themselves.  A good portion of them understand it.  They are to jog at the pace that is right for them.  We have started with walking and will then begin jogging for one minute.  It is hard for them to just jog and not run.  They have to learn that difference first.  Once they learn that then it begins to make sense.  They also have to understand that they don't have to do what everyone else is doing.  The pace that is right for them is the one they need to go at.  This year I have a brand new clock I bought for them to see the time.  It is bright and digital.  I also use music in case you haven't heard.  I play the music that they like.  I download music from Itunes that is only school appropriate.  They tell me songs they like and then if the lyrics are okay, I download them and put them on my Ipod Touch.  It costs me a lot of money, so if you would like to make a donation, I would be appreciative.  I have spent a lot of money over the years, downloading music for kids.  Research shows that we will exercise more to music we enjoy listening to.